35+ PRO-DEMOCRACY GROUPS URGE HOCHUL TO SIGN CRITICAL VOTE-BY-MAIL BILL
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
JUNE 30, 2023
PRESS CONTACT:
Sarah Harris, [email protected]
NEW YORK—Today, over 35 New York advocacy organizations urged Governor Kathy Hochul to promptly sign legislation (S7394/A7632) to expand early voting options to include an early vote-by-mail choice for all New Yorkers. In their letter to Hochul, the groups highlight the urgent need to begin implementing the New York Early Mail Voter Act before the 2024 election season.
Thirty-five other states––including the neighboring states of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and Vermont––already allow no-excuse mail-in voting.
“This system will enable all eligible New Yorkers to enjoy the convenience and efficiency of mail voting. Mail voting is a common-sense and secure solution that has been used for decades in other states, and provides voters a way to vote in the privacy and security of their own home. Elderly voters, those who work busy schedules, and those with childcare responsibility will no longer be forced to vote in-person in order to have their voices heard,” wrote the groups.
“By signing this bill, you can ensure that all New Yorkers have access to mail voting and enjoy a safe, accessible, and secure method of casting their ballots in 2024 and future elections. We strongly urge you to promptly sign this bill and allow election officials to begin implementation as soon as possible in advance of the 2024 primary elections,” they continued.
Full text of the letter is HERE and below:
June 30, 2023
The Honorable Kathy Hochul
Governor of New York State
Executive Chamber
State Capitol Building
Albany, NY 12224
RE: The New York Early Mail Voter Act (S7394/A7632)
Dear Governor Hochul:
We write this letter in strong support of the New York Early Mail Voter Act (S7394/A7632) and urge you to promptly sign this important legislation into law.
The New York Early Mail Voter Act creates a process where any registered voter in New York State can cast a mail ballot. With this legislation, New York can join 35 other states that allow any registered voter to vote by mail, without the need to provide a specific reason or excuse.
This system will enable all eligible New Yorkers to enjoy the convenience and efficiency of mail voting. Mail voting is a common-sense and secure solution that has been used for decades in other states, and provides voters a way to vote in the privacy and security of their own home. Elderly voters, those who work busy schedules, and those with childcare responsibility will no longer be forced to vote in-person in order to have their voices heard.
Through this bill, any voter who needs or simply prefers to vote by mail will now have that opportunity. By giving voters more ways to vote in a safe, secure, and accessible way, this bill will increase voter turnout in New York – especially among harder to reach populations like young voters and voters of color.
Expanded access to mail voting will also benefit election officials. Allowing all voters to use a mail option reduces polling place lines and places a lower administrative burden on election officials. Other states have found that an increase in the number of voters casting mail ballots is strongly associated with decreased total costs for administering elections.
This legislation is particularly important for the 2024 election cycle. With the COVID exception for absentee voting expiring at the end of 2022, there is currently no vote by mail option open to all New Yorkers. This legislation addresses that crucial issue, ensuring that all New Yorkers have the option to vote by mail if they wish in 2024 and beyond.
By signing this bill, you can ensure that all New Yorkers have access to mail voting and enjoy a safe, accessible, and secure method of casting their ballots in 2024 and future elections. We strongly urge you to promptly sign this bill and allow election officials to begin implementation as soon as possible in advance of the 2024 primary elections.
Sincerely,
Actors Equity Association
Alliance of Families for Justice
Bethlehem Morning Voice Huddle
Bronx NYPAN
Brooklyn Voters Alliance
Center for Law and Social Justice at Medgar Evers College
Chinese-American Planning Council (CPC)
Citizen Action of New York
Citizens Union
CCoHOPE Indivisible
Dutchess County Progressive Action Alliance
Elmont Cultural Center
Generation Vote
Indivisible Brooklyn
Institute for Responsive Government
LatinoJustice PRLDEF
Long Island Activists
Make the Road New York
Metro New York Health Care for All
National Action Network
New York Immigration Coalition
New York Progressive Action Network
Northwest Bronx Indivisible
NYPAN of the Southern Finger Lakes
NYPAN Greene
Progressive Action Lower Manhattan
Progressive East End Reformers (PEER)
Public Citizen
Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU)
SMART Legislation
Stand Up America
Third Act, NYC
Ulster Activists
Westchester for Change
Women Creating Change (WCC)
The Workers Circle
Working Families Party of Nassau County
YMCA of Greater New York
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About Stand Up America
Stand Up America is a progressive advocacy organization with nearly two million community members across the country. Focused on grassroots advocacy to stand up to corruption and voter suppression and build a more representative democracy, Stand Up America has driven over 1.7 million calls to lawmakers, registered over 100,000 voters, mobilized thousands of protestors, and contacted tens of millions of voters.
Website: StandUpAmerica.com
Twitter: @StandUpAmerica
Instagram: @StandUp_America
Facebook: @StandUpAmerica